While you can't move apps into a new iTunes account, you can share them between several different accounts. Apple allows users to authorize up to five accounts on each machine. This means that if you have applications from another iTunes account that you want to use on your computer, you can do so, provided you have authorization slots left over. This makes it possible for business users to share apps across computers. The applications from the original user account won't show up in the new user account purchase history, but they will be available to sync to your devices or to use on your new machine.

Moving Applications

1. Open iTunes and click on the "Apps" in the Library section. If the Apps section doesn't appear, click "iTunes," then "Preferences" and check the "Apps" option located under "Show."

2. Highlight all of your apps in the App tab in iTunes. Press "Command-C" on a Mac and "Ctrl-C" on a Windows PC to copy them.

3. Paste the apps to an external drive by right-clicking the drive icon and clicking "Paste." You can use a portable hard drive, CD drive or USB drive.

4. Connect the external drive to your new computer. Highlight all of the files by clicking on a blank area inside the folder holding your files and pressing "Command-A" simultaneously on a Mac or "Ctrl-A" simultaneously in Windows. Drag the files onto the "Apps" section located under the "Library" heading in the left sidebar in iTunes.

5. Click the "Store" menu and then "Authorize Computer." Enter in the details from your original account where the apps were originally purchased and click "Authorize." The computer with your new account can now play purchases from both your old and new computer.

Download Past Purchases (U.S. Only)

1. Launch iTunes on your computer.

2. Select the iTunes Store link on the left sidebar. Click the "Sign In" option located on the upper-right side of the iTunes application. Enter your username and password for the account you used to purchase the apps.

3. Click the "Purchased" link on the right side of the screen in the Quick Links section.

4. Click the "Apps" tab located on the Purchased page.

5. Select the "Not In My Library" tab to view all of the apps that aren't currently on your new computer.

6. Click the "Download" icon located to the right of each item to download each item to the new computer.

Things Needed

External drive

Tips

If any of your applications are stored on an iPad, iPhones or iPod Touch, you can transfer them to a new computer by plugging the device into your computer, opening iTunes, authorizing the computer for the purchases and selecting "Transfer Purchases."

If you have lost your apps completely, you can contact iTunes support and ask to have your items made available for download again.

About the Author

Avery Martin holds a Bachelor of Music in opera performance and a Bachelor of Arts in East Asian studies. As a professional writer, she has written for Education.com, Samsung and IBM. Martin contributed English translations for a collection of Japanese poems by Misuzu Kaneko. She has worked as an educator in Japan, and she runs a private voice studio out of her home. She writes about education, music and travel.